The Hindu : National : Fast-track Canadian immigration clearances for businesspersons

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 15, 2004

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National

Fast-track Canadian immigration clearances for businesspersons

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, OCT. 14. The Canadian provinces of Nova-Scotia and Quebec have launched programmes under which they issue requisite clearances to immigrant businesspersons and their families, on a fast-track mode.

Unlike the routine process, where the registration and clearance processes for immigrants could take up to three years, the processing under the programmes would be faster and completed in a year, according to senior executives of companies in Nova-Scotia and Quebec.

Addressing a press meet, Sam Buffone, vice-president of Renaissance Capital Inc, said the Quebec Investor Programme was for businesspersons with three years experience, having a turnover of Rs. 3 crores and willing to invest a minimum of Canadian $400,000. The government offered sops, including tax holidays, to the companies in Quebec, which hosted pharmaceutical, aerospace, information technology and biotechnology units.

According to Michael Mailman, vice-president of Cornwallis Financial Corporation, under the Nova-Scotia Nominee Programme 1,000 businesspersons and their families were to be offered immigration.

The press meet was organised here on Wednesday by Worldwide Immigration Consultancy Services Limited, a firm offering global resettlement solutions.

The chairman and managing director of the company, B.S. Sandhu, said the firm was engaged in providing "total transition package" to Indian immigrants. Canada offered tremendous opportunities for businesspersons, farmers and professionals.

The North American nation, he added, was the second largest country in the world with a population of only three crores.

J.S. Ahluwalia, vice-president (business immigration) of the firm, said Canada offered complete social security benefits, including free school education and medical care, subsidised higher education and old-age pension.

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